Sierra Streams Institute is a watershed monitoring, research, and restoration group based in Nevada City, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Their mission is to promote community stewardship and scientific knowledge of watersheds through monitoring, research, restoration, and education.

Students in the Sierra Steams Institute California Naturalist Program will become part of a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and citizen scientists, equipped with the skills needed to take an active role in local natural resource conservation, restoration and education. The ten week course combines science instruction with guest speakers, field trips, and project-based learning to explore the unique ecology and natural history of the northern Sierra foothills. The course will cover basic ecology and watershed concepts with opportunities for bird watching, sketching, journaling and photography. The program culminates in a capstone project, a chance for each student to explore a chosen topic in depth. To help guide the development of the capstone project, students will be matched to a local environmental organization working in their area of interest.

The certification classes will be held at Sierra Streams Institute in Nevada City one weekday evening a week, with four Saturday field trips. Four academic credits are available from UC Davis Extension for an additional nominal fee upon completion of the course requirements.